CL TOP-LEVEL OPEN COMPETITIONS (2026)

With CL club competitions concluded for the 2025 season, we can now confirm the composition of top-level open competitions for the 2026 season.

As committed previously, the Premier League will continue to be comprised of 12 teams as follows:

PREMIER LEAGUE
Balbriggan
Civil Service
Clontarf
Leinster
Malahide
Merrion
North County
Cork County
Pembroke
Phoenix
Railway Union
Rush

As per the 2025 season, these top 12 teams will play each other once in 2026 and then split into a top-half and bottom-half. The Top-half will play each other again for the Premier League Trophy whilst the bottom-half will play each other again for Championship Trophy.

FIRST TEAM LEAGUE
The First Team league is intended to comprise the next first teams (subject to accreditation standards and committee determination on final composition). When performance in 2025 and accreditation standards are taken into account, the First Team League for 2026 will be comprised as follows:

Adamstown
Cork Harlequins
Knockharley
North Kildare
Terenure
The Hills

As per the 2025 season, each team in the First Team League will play each other three times in 2026 (rather than twice as is the usual convention) totalling 15 league fixtures.

As per 2025, the Top team in the First Team League at the end of 2026 will be promoted to the Premier League for 2027 replacing the bottom team in the Premier League (subject to accreditation standards and OCC determination on final composition).

All other leagues will cascade as of now (mainly 8 team leagues) based on performance, submissions, level of players & OCC determination.

SENIOR CUP COMPETITION
The Senior Cup competition will continue to be played on a knock-out basis (as per 2025) based on a Draw which will take place prior to Christmas. All CL clubs in the Premier League and First Team League will compete in this competition which will also include Dublin University (17 teams). Terenure and Knockharley will play each other in a preliminary round prior to the full first round of fixtures.

SENIOR T20 (ALAN MURRAY) CUP COMPETITION
As per the 2025 season, it has been decided that at least some of the fixtures in this competition will take place away from weekend dates and on a regional basis culminating in a Finals Day as per prior years. All CL clubs in the Premier League and First Team League in 2025 will compete in this competition which will also include Dublin University (16 teams).

DISTRICT (SIGGINS CUP) COMPETITION
The District Cup competition will continue into its fourth year in 2026 with a reduced number of fixtures and primarily as a 50-over pathway tournament. As per 2025, there will be three competing teams including Dublin University.

Finally, just to reconfirm a couple of points as follows:

• The competition structures (outlined above) are wholly consistent with what was explained to clubs prior to the 2024 playing season and reflect what took place in 2025.
• The application of our accreditation standards means that teams/clubs are not promoted based solely on their on-field performance.
• It is clear that the structure provides a promotion pathway for all clubs to the top-level.
• The 2026 configuration of the First Team League continues to recognise the reality of our current situation where there are not yet 8 CL member clubs/ teams ready for promotion to the First Team League in 2026. We are delighted that Knockharley has committed to participate at this level from 2026 and we are confident that they will compete effectively.
• There is a strong commitment to sustain the existing Second XI Premier League format which is an effective and competitive peer competition played on the alternative weekend day to the Premier League.
• As all clubs will be well aware, we engage a third-party supplier with grounds expertise (GM By Choice) to complete ground & facilities assessments on our behalf - this process was initiated during the 2023 season and is now a core part of our grounds & accreditation oversight process. All clubs are provided with a copy of their own individual report which clearly indicates current capability and areas to be addressed as next steps.
• These reports together with other data including umpires reports, peer feedback and our own observations are used to determine any material issues which may impact hosting and/or promotion in any particular instance. All clubs should take the time to ensure that they are familiar with the standards required and CL is available to support as required.